Avenue Charles-Quint

In its current state, Avenue Charles Quint is above all a major thoroughfare linking the city centre directly to the E40 motorway via the Annie Cordy tunnel. Once known as the ‘Avenue Louise du Nord’, it has remained virtually unchanged for decades. Today, it suffers from daily traffic congestion, as well as the many nuisances that this traffic generates for the thousands of local residents, and from a decline in trade. Over time, its character as an urban barrier has become even more pronounced: it is difficult to cross for pedestrians, who sometimes have to wait more than 3 minutes before they can cross, it is not very attractive or regular for the very many bus routes (STIB and De Lijn) that run along it, and it is not very welcoming for cyclists.
The aim of the redevelopment project is to reintegrate the Avenue Charles Quint into the urban fabric, turn it into a modern, multimodal urban boulevard that strikes the right balance between the different modes of transport, and greatly improve the living environment for residents. To this end, Brussels Mobility is proposing more vegetation and the creation of several squares and mini-squares, in continuity with the neighbouring streets.

Avenue Charles-Quint will retain its function as the main route for motor traffic, and both the citizens consulted (1,000 respondents) and the local authorities have highlighted the smooth flow of motor traffic as one of the project's priorities. The profile will be essentially homogeneous, with 2 x 2 lanes of traffic, with pre-selection lanes at junctions, and a central green berm at least 120 cm wide - plus at pedestrian crossings.
Smooth traffic flow will be ensured by the introduction of a system for the dynamic coordination and management of traffic lights along the entire route, using metering and detection mechanisms, and by the simplification of certain junctions that currently cause congestion and blockages.
The project will maintain 222 out of 387 parking spaces along the carriageway in both directions, while allowing for a new alignment of majestic trees.

Currently designed as an urban highway, and difficult to cross, Avenue Charles Quint cuts the district in two. With more comfortable pavements and safe, fully accessible crossings for PRMs, pedestrians will be able to stroll much more serenely. Pedestrians currently have to wait too long to cross, sometimes even more than 3 minutes at certain junctions. Thanks to the simplification of certain junctions, the traffic light cycle and the dynamic traffic management system developed as part of the project, this waiting time will be reduced to a maximum of 75 seconds throughout the avenue. Mini-squares or piazzas will be created to enhance the "breathing" pedestrian spaces.
Comfortable cycle lanes, which are totally absent today, will be created. Between the regional border and the intersection with rue de Termonde, a two-way cycle path almost 4m wide will be built on the south side; this will be perfectly linked to the future Flemish Cyclostrade C2 (Fietssnelweg F2). Elsewhere, between Rue de Termonde and the Basilica, one-way lanes over 2m wide will be created on both sides of the avenue.
The project also includes the installation of 88 cycle racks throughout the perimeter, as well as drop-off zones for parking scooters and bicycles.

The project will significantly improve the aesthetic quality and comfort of the public space. In this respect, the renewal of the tree rows associated with the landscaped medians will make a major contribution to the enhancement of the public space. The proposed trees, arranged on either side of the carriageway, are large trees that are better proportioned to the size of the avenue and the buildings. They are also set at a greater distance from the facades.
The medians are of a good size and will create continuity and a strong plant presence. In addition to the various plantings along the street, several small squares and one large square are planned.
Four mini-squares will be created at Clos Louis Banken, Clos Willy Chambon, Rue Oscar Maesschalck and Rue de Termonde. These will be equipped with a rich and varied plant life and quality street furniture: benches and chairs, play elements, water fountain, Japanese steps, etc.

The Place Marguerite d'Autriche has been incorporated into the project with the aim of creating a missing link in the regional green promenade and creating a genuine square with areas for socialising and children's play areas.
The streets around Place Marguerite d'Autriche are being restructured so as to remove the western road, replace it with the green walkway, enlarge the available park space and set it against one of the square's built-up sides. The existing car park on the square will be moved towards Avenue Marie de Hongrie to create a large central area for a playground. The square will remain an important hub for STIB bus routes. The bus stops will be grouped together on the north side of the new Place Marguerite d'Autriche.

The project also involves restructuring the car traffic lanes on the Avenue des Gloires Nationales near the Collège du Sacré Cœur, creating a wide pavement area lined with a two-way cycle path, and linking it directly to the bus stop. The resulting space will create a large school forecourt.

Despite the absence of an exclusive right-of-way on the new Avenue Charles Quint, the many bus routes (STIB and De Lijn) that run along it will see their journey times and regularity improved.
On the route itself, the buses will benefit from the fluidity achieved thanks to dynamic traffic management. Today, however, it is above all the intersections (perpendicular streets and crossroads) that are highly detrimental to public transport. New measures that prioritise public transport over car traffic will therefore be implemented at several locations: the Avenue des Gloires Nationales for all bus lines, the François Beeckmans crossroads for STIB bus lines 87 and 83, the Chaussée de Gand crossroads for STIB tram 82 and bus 87, and the Chaussée de Zellik crossroads for De Lijn lines coming from Flanders.
Prioritising public transport in a mixed traffic situation is one of the key challenges of the project. Thanks to a combination of dynamic management and traffic measures, solutions have been found.

The redevelopment project for this vast public space (more than 75,000 m²) includes a significant reduction in the amount of permeable stone surfaces in favour of planted areas: medians, rain gardens, park areas, etc. There are also plans for permeable stone or partially stone areas: car parks and buffer zones between cycle paths and car parks. Almost all of the pavement and cycle path surfaces are thus channelled into the infiltration zones formed by the parking areas, the percolation strips bordering the cycle paths and the rain gardens.